Hongtaiji (redirected from Tiancong)

Hongtaiji

 or Abahai or Tiancong

(born Nov. 28, 1592, Manchuria—died Sept. 21, 1643, Manchuria) Creator of the Qing empire in Manchuria. Under him, Inner Mongolia and Korea became vassal states of the Manchus. On the counsel of his Chinese advisers, Hongtaiji began the conquest of China. He did not live to see its completion a year later, but his reign greatly strengthened the foundations of Manchu rule, and he became the first emperor of the Qing dynasty. See also Dorgon; Nurhachi.